Automatic firearm



Nov. 12, 1929. J. DESTREE AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed April 15, 1927 I!!!ill III flllllfllllllfll /I/l l A IZUEJ'Zi'UP JD 25122- 22 Patented Nov.12, 1929 JOSEPH DESTREE, OE BRUSSELS, BEGIUM aorormrro FIREARMApplication filed April 18, 1927, Serial No. 183,542, and in BelgiuniJ'annary 11, 1927.

a The present invention relates to an automatic fire-arm in which thepressure of the gases which discharge the bullets is employed forproducing the displacement of a member 5. taking part in the operationof the fire arm.

Th1s member may be the breech block, or a bolt on the latter, or anyother member.

The invention relates to an arrangement which, in spite of the suddenaction of the gases, permits comparativelyv gentle movements theamplitude of which is easily adj ustable tobe communicated to the saidmember.

The invention consists essentially in employing the gases themselves forexerting a braking action on the movement which they roduce, this resultbeing attained in employng the gases themselves for exerting brakingaction on the movement which they have produced immediately that themember is put into motion.

In my other specification No. 183,541, of even date an arrangement isdescribed which is similar to the present one but in which the motiveaction of the gases is transmitted through the medium of a fairlypowerful spring in order to produce by its expansion the variousautomatic operations.

The present invention is based on the obser-' vation of the fact thatthe nature of the adjustment which can be obtained by the opposingaction of the gases themselves even when the passages of the gases areof fairly large section is such that it is in no way indispensable tooppose, in addition to the motive action of the gases, a'spring whichacts as a damping and intermediate device. It has previously been knownto construct pparatuses .in which the braking gases mpinge upon the faceof the braking mechanism in the cylinder containing the motive gases,

, after whichsuch motive gases arejalreadyv the end of 't considerablyretarded. Such'admission of the braking ases is in addition eflfected athe stroke of the member in a manner that itself displaces it at a verygreat speed during the greater part of the stroke,

I promoting a shock upon the parts which are related thereto.

F Thepresent invention provides in particular for the construction of afire arm in which act the reverse operations being effected by "aperture2. When this projectile has passed the breech is opened and thecartridge case ejected by means of a mechanism actuated by a piston uponwhichthe gases produced by the combustion of the powder are made to theexpansion of one or several springs com pressed by the action of thegases.

To this end, according to the invention, the gas isadinitted through afairly large orifice permitting the gases to pass, away rapidly duringthe return stroke of thg piston, the

movement of theJatter belng checked during its forward stroke wellbefore it reaches the end of the stroke by admitting the gases on to itsother face througha fairly large aper- (i ture situated, relatively tothe first one, on the outlet side of the barrel.

The invention also provides a means for reducing the braking action byforming holes in the cylinder containing ,the piston, these holes beingformed onthe side on which the braking action is produced and leading tothe atmosphere.

In another form of the invention a current of gas is employed forexerting a braking action upon a member unlocking the breech block movedby the gases themselves.

The accompanying drawings illustrate diagrammatically, by way ofexample, the

barrel 1 in the wall of which have been pierced two fairly largeapertures 2 and 12 communicating with the ends 015 a cylinder 3containing a piston 4. When a projectile is fired, the gases force'thelatter out, driving this piston in the direction of the arrow 6 as soonas the projectile has passed'beyond the beyond the aperture 12, thegases exert a braking action upon the movement of the piston. During itsmovement in the direction of the arrow 6, the piston 4, through themedium presses a spring and locke 1 By means of this arrangement, thegases are rapidlyexpelled and yet no part is bro- .ken on account of themethod of braking employed." If the action of the gases is moreenergetic than usual, the braking action 1ncrea'ses proportionately.

The invention also provides for .the. possibility of regulating thestrength of the braking action by piercing one or more holes to 13 inthe cylinder 3, at the side oh which the gases exerting the brakingaction are admitted.

In the case shown in Figure 2 the invna tion is applied-to the controlof the movement of anunlocking member 20, which,

whenjt occupies its locked position produces a connection between the'barrel l8 and the breech block 21 of an automatic pistol.- The saidmember 20 is formed by a bridge plece sliding in a'directionat rightangles to the axis of thebarrel 18 and provided with two lugs orprojections such as 20' engaging, for

' producing the locking action, in corresponding notches in the breechblock 21. Durmg '35 firing, the gases which expel the bullet protime, byengaging inthe hole 18 of the bar rel 18, the displacement of the member20 in the direction of the arrow X, the effect of which is to unlock thebreech block.

The movement of the member, 20 is immediately damped by a'jet of gasdriven in the opposite direction through an orifice .19 in a membermounted upon the barrelby means of screws 19 for example. a The gas isled to the orifice 19 through a duct 19. disposed in the'axis of asecond hole 18,.--.formed in the barrel 18. As soon as the a member 20is displaced-in the 'directionof thezarrow X, the breech block isdisplaced 5o backwards under the faction if the gas, com- P pressing therecuperating spring 21 disposed in one of the usual ways. W

latter returns into its initial .position under theaction of the returnsring 20*."

The inclined planes 0 the lugs 20" then 1 'An automatic fire armcomprising a member'ztaking place in the" operation. of theufirearm,means for directly 'conducting"proect1le expelhng gases from the barrelto said I en the gases have ceased tqi actupon the member 25) the memberto effect movement-of the member in one direction and means forsubsequently conducting the gases directly from the barrel to saidmember in such manner as to act on -means for directly conductingprojectile ex.-

pelling gases from one portion of the barrel to one face of the plungerfor displacing the plunger rearward, and. means for subsequently.conducting the gases directly from another portionof the barrel totheother face of the plunger. r V

3. An automatic "fire arm comprising a fixed barrel, a cylinder, aplunber inthis cylinder directly. connected to the breech block,

means for conducting projectile expelling gases directly from oneportion of the barrel to one face of the plunger for. displacing theplunger rearward, means for subsequently conducting the gases directlyfrom another portion of the barrel to the other face of the plunger, thesaid meansfor conductlng the gases to the aforesaid faces of the plungerbemg such as to present afairly large section for the passage of thegases.

fl. An automatic fire arm comprising a fixed barrel, a cylinder, aplunger in this cylinder directl connected to the breech block, apassage 0 fairly large section extending from the barrel to the end ofthe cylinder op posed to the breech block, asecond passage of fairlylarge section extending from a point of the barrel at a distance fromthe breech-a little greater than for the first passage, to the other-endof the cylinder. y

5. An automaticfirearm comprising a fixed barrel, a cylindeiga plungerin this cyl-' inder directly connected to the breech block,

- a passage of fairly large section extending from the barrel to the endof the cylinder .opposed to the breech block, a second passage of fairlylarge section extending from a'pomir of'the barrel at a distance fromthe breech .a little" greater than, for thefirst passage, to

the other end of the cylinder, holes in the cylinder near this last endfor'connecting this part .of the cylinder with the atmosphere- 6.,Anautomatic; fire'arm comprising a fixed barrel, a member normally lockingthe breech block -by direct engagement therethe other face of theelement.

little greater than for thefirst "passage, to

7 'An automatic fire. arm comprising a fixed barrel, a member normallylocking the with, a passagejof'fairly large section exases must act forunbreech block by direct engagement therewith, a passage of fairly largesection extending from the barrel to the face of this member on whichthe gases must act for unlocking the breech block, a second passage offairly large section extending from a point of the-barrel at a distancefrom the breech a little greater than for the first passage, to theother face of the element, a spring soliciting the said member towardits locking position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH DESTREE.

